choking; suffocating; stifling; oppressive; heavy
to lose (money, etc.); to suffer a loss; to waste (one's time, efforts, etc.); to bring to naught; to feel disappointed (e.g. by missing out on something); to suffer a (perceived) loss
free and uncontrolled; behaving with abandon; freewheeling
restriction; restraint; limitation; limit
nonexistent; unreal; imaginary; spurious
parroting back; repeating (another's words) like a parrot
(turning) round and round; in circles; wrapping around; winding around
already; previously; before; undeniably; unmistakably
ordinary person; member of the general public; non-celebrity
to be caught; to be captured; to be taken prisoner; to be seized with (fear, etc.); to be a slave to; to stick to
of the time; at the time; of the hour; in vogue; sought after
friend; companion; comrade; accompaniment; companion (e.g. book); complement
wonderful; astounding; marvellous
putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end; getting one's priorities backwards
small mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise
several weeks; a few weeks
to take into one's possession; to receive; to take into one's care (e.g. person, pet); to take custody of; to leave; to go away
still more; even more; much more; increased; greater
to work too hard; to try too hard; to strain oneself; to overdo it; to go too far
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
important person; strategic person; key figure
(not) at all; (not) by any means; (cannot) possibly; absolutely (not)
dots; spots; bit by bit; little by little; here and there; scattered
to make way for; to make room for; to get out of the way; to pave the way for; to open up opportunity
standoffishly; primly; pungently (of a smell); acridly; long and pointed (e.g. of a nose); popping (of ears)
rotten smell; putrid odor
to fire from a job; to dismiss; to discharge; to behead
unbearable; intolerable; unendurable
teacher's desk; teacher's lectern
to fit (e.g. a pane into a frame); to insert (e.g. a cork); to put on (something that envelops; e.g. a ring, gloves); to place (a hoop) around; to pigeonhole (into a particular category); to force (into a mold); to entrap
feeling; mood; disgusting; sickening; revolting
(one) matter; (one) item; (one) case
changing (one's job, loyalties, stance, etc.); switching over; changing quarters (of a geisha, prostitute, etc.)
it's no big deal; it's no problem; it's nothing to worry about; safe (and sound); all right
to go to bed; to be sick in bed; to be laid up
to mask; to cover; to cloak; to hide; to conceal
to be greedy; to be avaricious; to want badly; to desire intensely; to covet
dazzling; glaring; dazzlingly beautiful
before one's eyes; in one's presence; up close; personally
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post)
exhaustion; consumption; using up; dissipation; waste
settlement (of a matter); sorting out; winding up (affairs); cleaning up afterwards; tidying up (when finished)